A collection of lyrics and
music - chords, tabs and
bits of sheet music - of
songs written by American
singer-songwriter David
Ackles (1937-1999)

Tuesday, January 26, 1971

Out on the Road

I met a man, such a sad old boy, in a waterfront bar,
And he asked me, 'Young man, don't you think you've gone too far?'
'No,' I told him, 'I got so much more livin' to do.'
It was then he said, 'I know, I've been afraid like you.'

I met a woman, such a poor old lady, in a hotel room,
And she asked me, 'Young man, don't you think you'd better run home soon?'
'No,' I told her, 'I got no brown eyes to run home to.'
It was then she said, 'I know, I've been afraid like you.'

Well if everybody knows, if everybody sees, that fear is our heaviest load,
Then they ought to know I got to stay out on the road.
And if they do not understand how we got to lend a hand,
Then all I can do is pray, let me stay out on the road.

I met a man, such a fine young man, in a broken-down jail,
And he told me, 'Friend, don't be afraid to live. It doesn't matter if you fail.'
Then he smiled and started to cry.
It was then he said, 'I know, I've been afraid to die.'

Well if everybody knows, if everybody sees, that feat is our heaviest load,
Then they ought to know, I got to stay out on the road.
And if they do not understand how we got to lend a hand,
Then all I can do is pray, let me stay out on the road.